Ments



(No Model.)

W. WELLS.

SELF LEVELING SHIPS BERTH. No. Patented Jul 10, 1883.

Ivy 7;

N. PETERS. Phalo-Mhugnphor, wflm n, n. c;

UNITED- STATES ATEN'r Fries.

WEBSTER ELLS, OF VIN-CHESTER, MASS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- "MENTS, TO THE BRUNSWICK SHIPS BERTH COMPANY, OF CONN.

SELF-LEVELING SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters SHIPS BER F-H.

Application filed November 16, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WEBSTER. WVnLLs, of \Vinchester, in the county of Middl'esex, ,of the State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mechanism for Regulating or Controlling the Motions of a Berth of a-Xavigable Vessel; and I do hereby declare the same to be described in the following specification and represented in the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure 1 is a front view of the berth-controlling mechanism embodying my invention, and showing the bevelgear that engages with the pendulum-sector as applied directly to the shaft of the worm that engages with the berthsector. Fig. 2 is a front view, and Fig. 3 a

transverse. section, of the berth-controlling mechanism as provided with intermediate gears coupling the said bevel-gear with the said worm-shaft, it being sometimes more convenient to have the axis of vibration of the pendulum somewhat below rather than in line with the axis of the worm-shaft, as in Fig. 1.- I would remark that my invention or berthcontrolling mechanism, may be often used to advantage for controlling the movements of a cattlestall or some other article on shipboard which it may be desirable to have maintain a horizontal position while the vessel, when at sea, may be rolling or pitching.

The berth or article to be kept level is represented in the drawings at M. It may be supposed, at its middle, to bepivoted or journaled within and to a sustaining-frame, F, and having fixed to one of its pivots or journals, a, a toothed sector, (Z, which engages with a screw or worm, c, of a shaft, I), supported in suitable boxes or bearings, e and f, which are to be properly connected with the said sustainingframe, so as to move therewith.

A pendulum, P, whose rod is shown at j and its weight at k, is to be supposed to be pivoted to the sustaining-frame F, or to a bracket, B,

as shown in Fig. 2, fastened thereto or to the side of the vessel, as may be most convenient. From this pendulum a toothed sector, i, project-s, as shown, and engages with a bevel-gear,

.h, which in Fig. 1 is represented as directly connected with the worm-shaft b, but in Fig.

2 as'indirectly connected with such shaft by a train of two spur-gears, r 8, arranged as set forth. The parts are to be so arranged that the motion of the pendulum in swinging back. andfortli shall, through the intervening mechanism, cause or permit the worm-shaft to be revolved.

The object of the described mechanism may be thus explained. pivoted at its middle to a supporting device or devices, with no means of controlling the motions of such berth, it would, if once set to swinging by a lurch or rolling of the vessel,- continue to swing back and forth unnecessarily. This swinging motion would be disagreeable to an occupant of the berth. Again,were the weight of a person brought on the edge or one side or end of the berth, as would occur inthe act of entering or departing from the berth, such berth would be liableto be thrown out of its proper position or level, often to the inconvenience of the occupant. My invention pre vents all this, for no matter how much weight is brought to bear on the edge, side, or end of the berth, such berth cannot be moved out of its horizontal position unless the worm be re volved, which can take place only when the vessel may be in motion, the pendulum in the meantime keeping its normal or vertical po sition. The pendulum, under the action of gravity, indirectly causes the worm to revolve while the vessel may be in motion, the berth being maintained in its level position or prevented from being thrown out of such by an occupant of it.

In another application for a patent made recently by me a toothed rack to engage with the toothed sector of the berth constitutes part of the invention claimed in such application. This rack I dispense with altogether in carrying out the invention or improvement hereinbefore explained.

I would remark that I do not herein claim the combination of worms or screws with berths for the purpose and in the manner as shown and described in the United States Patent No. 260,911.

I claim 1. The combination of the pendulum,the two toothed sectors, the worm-shaft with its worm, and one or more gears connecting such worm- Were the berth simply 7 IOO shaft with the pendulum toothed sector, all be- I ing adapted and to operate substantially in manner and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of aberth,pivoted as described, and a toothed sector adapted to the aXis of vibration or one of the pivots of such berth, with a pendulum provided with a toothed sector and pivoted directly or indirectly to the frame or device to which the berth is pivoted,

10 a shaft and a screw or worm adapted thereto, 1

to engage with the berth toothed sector and I with one or more gears connecting such wormshaft with the pendulum toothed sector, all being substantially and to operate as and for the purpose set forth.

WEBsTER- wELLs.

Witnesses:

R. H. EDDY, E. B. PRATT; 

